diy

This is for our beautiful Gluten Free readers, we look after you too <3

Serves 6

Ingredients

450g waxy potatoes (such as Charlotte)

350g parsnips or other root veg

1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1 egg, beaten

4-5 tbsp sunflower oil

To serve

6 rashers of streaky bacon or slices of prosciutto

6 stems of cherry tomatoes on the vine

6 eggs

Method

Peel and coarsely grate the potatoes and parsnips – if you’re using a food processor, attach the medium grater. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible with your hands and put them in a bowl.

Stir in the onion, garlic, egg and season if you like. Divide the mixture into six and roughly shape into flat cakes. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry three of the cakes on a low heat for 4-5 mins on each side until golden and tender. Transfer to kitchen paper with a slotted spoon and leave to cool while frying the remainder, adding remaining oil as necessary. Meanwhile grill the bacon and tomatoes, poach the eggs and serve alongside.

This guest post was written by Michael Volkin, inventor of Weight Loss Stack 52 (currently undergoing crowdfunding), the most unique and fun way to lose weight.

Busted! 5 Weight Loss Myths that will Make You Cry

Are you tangled in the web of weight loss fads and endless contradicting information on the web? Hopefully you haven’t fallen victim to one of these fads, wasting money and time with the hopes to lose a few pounds, only to gain more back in return. I know, it’s frustrating and millions of people share your pain. Below I explain several myths that you might be doing right now to try and lose weight. If you are, then stop wasting your time and money.

MYTH # 1) LOSING WEIGHT REQUIRES HUNGER PAINS

The fact is, what you eat is more important than how much you eat. If you don’t eat enough, your metabolism will slow down, making your body want to store fat. As a result, your initial weight loss will come from water and muscle, instead of fat.

You should try to consume healthy food choices and save those foods (and beverages) that are high in fat, sugar and calories for special occasions. Yes, you can have those unhealthy food choices from time to time, in fact, it’s encouraged. Without a cheat meal or snack every now and then, you will get frustrated and lose sight of your goal. Please note, I said a cheat meal, not a cheat day. I see too many people doing cheat days, which is way too much for your body to overcome on a weight loss plan.

MYTH # 2) EAT NO FAT WHATSOEVER

This is a very old and popular myth. Your fat intake should be limited to around 15% of your overall daily calorie intake. Fat is needed in any diet to lubricate your joints, keeps your skin smooth and elastic, provide a source of energy, help your nervous system function properly and more. Olive, flaxseed and fish oils are good sources of fats. Fats to avoid include saturated fats and hydrogenated fats (also known as trans fats).

MYTH # 3) AVOID CARBS

You’ve certainly heard this before, “Carbohydrates are bad for you and should be avoided”. This myth has been trending lately as fad diets like Atkins and its copycats become more and more popular. The truth is carbohydrates have a moderate amount of calories (about half as many as fat). Simple carbohydrates (sugar) should be limited, but complex carbohydrates: whole grain and starches are high in nutrients. The problem with carbohydrates is portion control. Too many people eat at restaurants with huge portion sizes loaded with 5 times the amount of carbs needed for a given meal. The best way to control your carb portions is to cook for yourself.

MYTH # 4) MEAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET ENOUGH PROTEIN

Meat is a great source of protein, but it certainly is not the only source. Meat can also be high in fat and sodium so many people look for alternative sources of protein. Egg whites are a prime source of protein and so are various vegetables and legumes like peas, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

Adults should engage in a workout regimen for at least 30 minutes a day at least 4 days a week. Research has shown that the activity does not need to be done all at once. The 30 minute routine can be split into two 15 minute intervals and provide the same health benefits.

MYTH #6: VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS ARE HEALTHIER EATERS THAN CARNIVORES

Vegetarians on average eat fewer calories and less fat than carnivores (non-vegetarians). However, vegetarians can make eating choices that contribute to weight gain by eating large amounts of high-fat, high-calorie foods as well as food with little nutritional value. The term vegetarian is not synonymous with health.

The best way to be sure you are getting a well balanced, nutrient rich diet is to eat more whole foods and less processed, pre-packaged foods and to avoid eating out as much as possible. Make eating out an occasional treat, but try to prepare most of your meals yourself and you will be on your way to living a healthier, leaner lifestyle.

With your new found knowledge of weight loss, grab yourself a deck of my new invention, Weight Loss Stack 52, weight loss cards.

Summer is coming, whether you’re staying where you are or going on holiday, your feet deserve a bit of air! Being cooped up in your shoes and socks all winter, they want to be set free while it is still sunny and warm outside!

Let’s give our feet a bit of love this weekend and prepare them for flip flops, sandals or even no shoes!

1. TRIMMING AND SHAPING:Remove your old nail polish with some cotton dipped in nail polish remover. Trim your nails. Make sure you cut straight across and don’t cut the corners too much as this can lead to painful ingrown nails. Use an emery board or nail file to give them the desired shape. Some people may prefer to cut nails after soaking as they will be softer and easy to shape. I do this first as my nails get too soft for shaping once they are soaked.

2. FOOT SOAK

A good foot soak goes a long way in beating the stress after a long day. In a basin fill warm water enough to cover up to your ankles and add:

Epsom salt ½ cup. This is an emollient and will soothe inflammations, reduce roughness and reduce muscle pain. Also helps with exfoliation. (Available in most medical shops). However if you do not have this you can use any other bath salts you may have on hand.

Juice of 1 lemon

A few drops of a Foot Wash of your choice. You can substitute this with liquid hand wash or shampoo if you like.

Essential oils of your choice. (10-12 drops). I use lavender and eucalyptus. Lavender soothes and rejuvenates the skin and helps calm the nerves while eucalyptus provides excellent relief to aching feet. It is also a very good antiseptic and disinfectant.

Add a few smooth pebbles to the water. These will provide a gentle massage as you place your feet on them. Feels heavenly!! (Read this tip somewhere and totally love it!)

Sit in a comfortable position, soak your feet and relax for 15-20 minutes. Dry them with a towel.

4. MOISTURISE:

Once you are done scrubbing, wash your feet clean and moisturise them.

Use moisturiser of your choice. A face cream you found to be too heavy for the face can do the trick!!

Almond oil and olive oil (1tsp each) with 10-12 drops of your favourite essential oil also makes a good home made massage oil for feet.

Rub a generous portion into your feet and massage well, better still if you can get someone else to do the massage for you. Ask your hubby or a friend! Sit back and relax! Regular foot massages help keep nerve endings stimulated, improve blood circulation, nourish the skin and foot muscles.

If you have cracks, follow up with a cream formulated especially for that. You can also use Vaseline mixed with lime juice, wrap with plastic for 15 minutes. Wear loose cotton socks and tuck yourself in.

5. DRESS THEM UP!

Paint your toe nails with a colour of your choice. Always apply a base coat. Wait for it to dry and then apply a coat of nail polish. Let it dry completely before you apply the next coat. This will make your nail polish last longer.

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We’ve all been there girls (and some guys!), wearing a dark nail polish for so long that your natural nail has been stained an off white/yellow colour. We’ve found 2 ways for you to get rid of that discolouration and get back those clean, fresh fingertips!

Lemon & Soapy Water

The acidic properties of lemon juice can help dissolve away stain particles in your nails, and the soapy water can further assist in the removal of those particles from the surface of your nails.

Soap helps the process by binding with the particles of stain-causing debris after the lemon lifts those particles from the surface of the nail. This makes it easier to wash those particles away.